Window frame mounting



IN VENT OR Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE WINDOW FRAllIE MOUNTING Application December 13, 1934, Serial No. 757,342

4 Claims.

This invention relates to window frame mountings and in particular it relates to an improved yieldable mounting for metal window frames or metal spandrel plates in concrete structures. By

5 the term concrete is meant both monolithic and masonry forms of rigid cement or cemented construction.

Installation of metal window frames in concrete, masonry or other similar types of construc- 10 tion necessitates provision for the absorption of the differential thermal expansion of the materials employed in order that strains may not be set up in the frame with possible damage to the glass. Likewise, especially in the design of large 15 metal window frames, provision is desirable for an appreciable amount of movement in the structure, such as by settling of the building or other accidental causes, such as earth tremors, wind movement or other causes, as well as thermal 20 expansion, without the strains being transmitted to the window frame assembly.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective yieldable joint for metal window frame mountings. Another object '25 is to provide an improved sealed union between metal and monolithic or masonry sections of a structure capable of vertical and horizontal movement. These and other objects will be readily understood from the following description and 30 from the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional View of my improved joint showing a metal window frame assembly yieldably mounted in a concrete wall;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing "35 another embodiment of my invention;

Referring in particular to Fig. 1 as an example illustrating the improved yieldable mounting, 5 is a section of the concrete wall in which the window frame assembly 6, considered collectively, is mounted. A projecting subframe member 1 of 45 the frame assembly is formed with an enlarged edge 8. This enlarged portion is slotted on the projecting edge to receive and hold a resilient fiber fabric or similar crushable material 9 which acts as a seal and self-adjusting clearance guide 50 between the projecting subframe member and the casing or sheath In which surrounds it in close-fitting engagement. Casing Ill is of thin gauge metal formed to fit closely the contour of the projecting portion of the subframe with the 55 exception that space is provided for horizontal movement of the enlarged portion 8 of somewhat greater magnitude than the maximum expected movement between the sections joined. Mastic compound may be introduced into the seal for the purpose of sealing the sliding contacts and 5 lubricating the metal surfaces in sliding contact. This mastic or sealing compound is a well known material in the art, usually being an asphaltic base type compound of semi-fluid or plastic consistency. Supporting bars I I, which pass through 10 the casing and through the subframe member and project on either side into the concrete, as shown, may be used if desired and give a firm anchorage in the concrete and eliminate to a large extent any tendency for concrete to crack out or shell away from the casing cavity. In this event the openings E2 in the subframe are made of such a size that a predetermined vertical and horizontal movement is allowed. These openings may be in the form of slots as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It isusually desirable to place these bars on the vertical portions of the frame only. The openings and the'bars are positioned so that the weight of the frame assembly is carried by the bars with the frame in'normal position. Therefore, the number of bars and their spacing is dependent upon the size and weight of the frame or section to be supported.

Fig. 2 illustrates a modification of the mounting shown in Fig.1.. In some cases it will be '30 found possible to eliminate the resilient sealing member 9. In this event the enlarged edge 8 may be formed without a slot, as shown in Fig. 2. The assembly is the same as has been described in other respects, and the seal is formed by the lubricated, sliding, labyrinthian and catacomb-like contact between the surfaces of the projecting subframe I and the casing It, and this seal will be found adequate for many constructions.

In practice the casing ill and the subframe 40 *member 1 contained in slidable contact withinit, 'are positioned in the face of the opening in the concrete wall by accurately locating this assembly on the concrete form prior to pouring the concrete. When the concrete has been poured and is set and the forms have been stripped, the window assembly is secured to the subframe.

The casing is formed of thin gauge metal and its function is mainly to provide a metal bearing surface on the concrete for slidable contact with the subframe and to prevent contact of the subframe with the concrete as poured during assembly. The casing is preferably preshaped in lengths which can be conveniently handled. The throat portion l4 adjacent the open end is of a dimension which fits in close slidable contact with the neck portion I5 of the projecting member I. The enlarged portion of the casing is formed with a somewhat greater depth than the enlarged portion 8 of the projecting member 1 to allow horizontal movement of the subframe within the casing, but the sides of the enlarged portion of the casing fit in slidable contact with the flat bearing surface of the enlarged edge portion 8. The required number of sections of casing are slipped on the projecting member I prior to mounting. In case supporting bars I I are desired, openings I3 are made in the casing registered in relation to the openings I2 in the subframe to allow the weight to be supported by the bars when the window assembly is in normal operating position. The casing is positioned on the form with respect to the horizontal position of the subframe within it, the enlarged edge being substantially centered within the enlarged portion of the casing based on an average operating temperature and a predetermined movement, and supporting bars I I are positioned and secured in position to support the window assembly and allow for vertical movement. In case the bars are not used, the weight of the assembly is carried by the sill with space allowed at the top for vertical movement.

The fabric extension member 9 is shown in Fig. 1 may be any crushable resilient fabric, usually produced from woven or matted fiber. This sealing member is positioned and held by compressed contact in the slot of the enlarged edge of the subframe with sufficient projection beyond said edge so that it will continually contact the inner face of the closed end of the casing I I] in all operating positions.

While this yieldable mounting has been described in relation to metal window frames, it will be understood that it may be equally useful in mounting other sections in building structures where it is necessary to allow for a differential expansion or other movement, such as, forexample, in the suspension of metal spandrel plates. Furthermore, it is to be understood that while the seal has been described as continuously encircling the metal member, in some cases, such as a vertical panel of metal window assemblies and intervening metal spandrel plates, it may be found desirable to use my improved seal only on the vertical portions of the individual sections except at the sill and top of the complete panel assembly. These and other similar modifications are within the purview of the appended claims.

Having described my invention in accurate detail and how it works, what I claim is:

1. An improved yieldable joint for joining I abutting surfaces of concrete and metal sections,

comprising a channel-shaped metal sheath positioned in the concrete section, said sheath having an enlarged, inner portion and a narrower outer throat portion opening outwardly toward the metal section at the surface of said concrete section, and a projecting member on the metal section adapted for engagement with said metal sheath, said projecting member having an enlarged edge portion slidably arranged in the enlarged inner portion of said sheath and a narrower neck portion slidably contacting the throat portion of said sheath.

2. An improved yieldable joint for joining abutting surfaces of concrete and metal sections, comprising a channel-shaped metal sheath positioned in the concrete section, said sheath having an enlarged inner portion and a narrower outer throat portion opening outwardly toward the metal section at the surface of said concrete section, and a projecting member on the metal section adapted for engagement with said metal sheath, said projecting member having an enlarged edge portion slidably arranged in the enlarged inner portion of said sheath and a narrower neck portion slidably contacting the throat portion of said sheath, said enlarged portion of the projecting member being provided with a resilient extension adapted to engage the wall of said enlarged inner portion of said metal sheath.

3. An improved yieldable joint for joining abutting surfaces of concrete and metal sections, comprising a channel-shaped metal sheath positioned in the concrete section, said sheath having an enlarged inner portion and a narrower outer throat portion opening outwardly toward the metal section at the surface of said concrete section, and a projecting member on the metal section adapted for engagement with said metal sheath, said projecting member having an enlarged edge portion slidably arranged in the enlarged inner portion of said sheath and a narrower neck portion slidably contacting the throat portion of said sheath, said enlarged portion of the projecting member being provided with a resilient extension adapted to engage the wall of' said enlarged inner portion of said metal sheath, and the contacting surfaces of said throat portion of the sheath and said neck portion of the projecting member being lubricated with a sealing compound. 1

4. An improved yieldable .joint for joining abutting surfaces of concrete and metal sections, comprising a channel-shaped metal sheath positioned in the concrete section, said sheath having an enlarged inner portion and a narrower outer throat portion opening outward toward the metal section at the surface of said concrete sec- .tion, and a projecting member on the metal sec- 

